diff --git a/db.tf b/db.tf
index 66cbf85..4de7805 100644
--- a/db.tf
+++ b/db.tf
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ resource "aws_rds_cluster_parameter_group" "apiary_rds_param_group" {
   name        = "${local.instance_alias}-param-group"
   family      = "${var.rds_family}" # Needs to be kept in sync with aws_rds_cluster.apiary_cluster.engine and version
   description = "Apiary-specific Aurora parameters"
-  tags        = merge(map("Name", "${local.instance_alias}-param-group"), "${var.apiary_tags}")
+  tags        = "${merge(map("Name", "${local.instance_alias}-param-group"), "${var.apiary_tags}")}"
 
   parameter {
     name  = "max_allowed_packet"
diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index b600f02..0d3813e 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -356,3 +356,9 @@ variable "rds_engine" {
   type        = "string"
   default     = "aurora-mysql"
 }
+
+variable "rds_max_allowed_packet" {
+  description = "RDS/MySQL setting for parameter 'max_allowed_packet' in bytes. Default is 128MB (Note that MySQL default is 4MB)."
+  type        = "string"
+  default     = "134217728"
+}